chapter 9 synopsis

Chapter nine addresses the occurrence of scientific looking. This term refers not only to “looking” but also the visual culture in the world around us that we take for granted. It includes a wide range of media such as fine art to popular films and television to advertising and visual data. After reading this chapter, I became more aware of the bond between images and how they interact with scientific practices and in media appropriations of various scientific methods.
We are now capable of seeing things that were considered impossible just 50 years ago. Back then, it was only a medical dream to be able to “see” inside a person’s body. Today, we take the MRI for granted as an important tool for doctors to diagnose a person’s illness or injury.
Today, we are aware that scientific knowledge is dependent on social, political, and cultural influences. The alliance between science and art during the Renaissance Period (14th -17th centuries) was a major topic of discussion and exploration. During the early part of that period, they were both very much intermingled since various artists were consumed with creating anatomically correct figures in their artwork.
One such artist was Leonardo da Vinci. It was his work of art, Vitruvian Man, an observational drawing of the male anatomy, that has become an iconic example of meshing the worlds of science and art into one. This masterpiece, drawn with pen and ink, depicted a male figure in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart placed inside a circle and a square. Today, that drawing may be found in every type of institution from hospitals to museums.
Later, during the 19th Century, people truly started to see and explore further the connection between these two subjects. The relationship between using art and photography was found useful with the creation of X-Ray technology. Other discoveries such as computed tomography, scanning, ultrasound, and as I mentioned earlier, the MRI, are all examples of medical imaging or “looking.”
Throughout the twentieth century these discoveries were at the forefront of a major shift worldwide toward the visual means of having the ability to represent knowledge. This is evident within the scientific community with the growth in the area of medical imaging which trained professionals will decode to help their patients.
I can’t imagine anything more rewarding than to show a couple a snapshot of their baby before he or she is even born. Sonograms have made that a common day occurrence around the world. It not only provides peace of mind to the couple, but can also detect any problems with the baby or mother before a serious problem could occur.
The Human Genome Project is another example of the interrelationship between science and art. This was an international research project to crack the DNA code and create a genetic map of a human being. This was done with the assistance of art or visual media and the scientific communities working together towards a common goal. I am sure that within my lifetime there will be great strides in medicine and healthcare to prolong our lives due to the basic integration of science and art.